Liana, a German Shepard, was taken into police custody after her owner was arrested Feb. 17 for DUI and a felony burglary warrant out of San Diego, Calif. Officer Eric Michl, who arrested the owner, worked with the man’s defense attorney to find a home for the dog when they learned no one else could take her. less

Liana, a German Shepard, was taken into police custody after her owner was arrested Feb. 17 for DUI and a felony burglary warrant out of San Diego, Calif. Officer Eric Michl, who arrested the owner, worked ... more

Photo: Photo courtesy Eric Michl

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Seattle Police DUI Squad member Eric Michl, shown here in Dec. 2009, worked with defense attorney Megan Giske to find the home for a German Shepard that had belonged to a man he arrested.

Seattle Police DUI Squad member Eric Michl, shown here in Dec. 2009, worked with defense attorney Megan Giske to find the home for a German Shepard that had belonged to a man he arrested.

Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com file

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A doctor at Harborview Medical Center offered to raise Liana, this German Shepard whose owner was arrested for DUI and a burglary warrant. Police in San Diego are extraditing the owner to California for the burglary case. Officer Eric Michl, who arrested the man worked to find a home for the dog when it was clear no one else in the man’s family could take her. less

A doctor at Harborview Medical Center offered to raise Liana, this German Shepard whose owner was arrested for DUI and a burglary warrant. Police in San Diego are extraditing the owner to California for the ... more

After going through the standard checks, Michl arrested the 46-year-old driver for DUI. When he ran his name through the computer, Michl learned the man also was wanted on a felony burglary warrant in San Diego, Calif.

The paperwork went to the courts, where the driver was charged with DUI and a criminal complaint started the process to extradite him to California.

It would have been a routine case if not for a German shepherd named Liana, the driver’s dog.

After her owner was arrested, Michl gave her a ride in the back of his police car, and the dog stuck her nose through the partition and kissed his ear.

“I just felt really bad that this dog and her owner would have to be separated,” Michl said. “Even though he’s in trouble with the law, I felt really bad for him.”

Michl checked with the Seattle Animal Shelter to see if they could hold Lynna while her owner was in custody, but they could only hold her so long — not long enough for the legal process to run its course. Prosecutors say the driver, Juan Crespo, also had tried to flee to Canada to avoid his felony warrant. He’s pleaded not guilty to charges.

Maybe Crespo had someone in California who could take care of the dog, Michl thought. But he didn’t.

“So I’m hoping, between his attorney and I, we can find his dog a new home,” Michl wrote on his personal Facebook wall Tuesday night.

The DUI arrest occurred the morning of Feb. 17, and in the days since, Michl checked on Liana’s progress at the animal shelter and said Crespo’s defense attorney, Megan Giske, had been great. Seattle Animal Shelter staff said Lynna was healthy and could be adopted to a loving home – but preferably one without cats.

“The separation from her owner obviously was not Lynna’s fault and she deserves a chance to live a full and happy life,” Michl wrote in his Facebook post. “If you know of anyone interested, please get a hold of me. I can provide details of her evaluation by the kennel manager.”

Within hours, an AMR ambulance driver offered to foster the German shepherd. Michl’s aunt and uncle offered to take the dog at their Snohomish County home, even though they’re in their 80s. A doctor at Harborview Medical Center also expressed interest, and it seemed Wednesday afternoon that her home might be the best fit.

“I was hoping he wouldn’t be in custody too long so they could be back together,” Michl said of Crespo. “There are a lot of good things about being a dog owner.”

Michl and his family know that well. They have an 80-pound yellow lab, Blazer, who joined their home last April. The pup’s first name is Tommy, named after the black lab they lost just a few weeks earlier.

Tommy, a black lab, was the first dog for Michl’s son. He lived for eight years before succumbing to cancer.

“Your dogs never leave you, no matter what,” Michl said Wednesday after visiting Liana in his free time. “I’m just happy that Mr. Crespo knows his dog is going to a good home.”

Though Liana is expected to get a good home, Seattle Animal Shelter staff say there are many other dogs and cats who need loving owners. And because of an ongoing promotion, new pet owners can make appointments for free spay and neutering services through March. Click here to read more about adoptable animals, and browse through images of some of the dogs and cats below.